JACOB - BEING CHOSEN

One of the most interesting people in the book of Genesis is Jacob. Genesis gives us the record of nine great persons. The first five—Adam, Abel, Enosh, Enoch, and Noah—are considered as five separate people. Although there was some spiritual relationship between them, strictly speaking, Adam, Abel, Enosh, Enoch, and Noah have nothing to do with each other. However, when we come to the last four—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—we see that, as far as the experience of life is concerned, they should not be considered as four separate individuals.

With Abraham we do not have the matter of selection. The first item in Abraham's record is calling. But according to the New Testament revelation, the experience of God does not begin with God's calling but with His selection. Firstly, God selected us; secondly, He predestinated us; and thirdly, He called us. After God's calling, we have forgiveness, redemption, justification, regeneration, and God's full salvation. In this we can see that with Abraham we do not have the beginning of the experience of God. The beginning is with Jacob, for in him we see God's selection. In Jacob's record, however, we do not find God's calling. Therefore, we say once again that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob plus Joseph are not four separate persons; they are four aspects of one complete experience in life. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with Joseph each represent an aspect of the experience of life. As we shall see, Jacob stands for the transformed life and Joseph represents the ruling aspect, the kingly aspect, of this transformed life.

According to the New Testament revelation, the believers were firstly chosen by God in eternity past before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). Secondly, the believers were predestinated according to God's selection. This also took place in eternity past. Then, in time, God called us. In God's calling, which follows His predestination, we receive forgiveness, redemption, justification, regeneration, and full salvation. In addition to all this, we must be transformed. Day by day we are under the process of God's transformation to be brought not only into the full sonship but also into the kingship. We were born sons of God, the royal sons, and we are undergoing the process of God's transformation that in the future we might be kings.

We do not see the kingship with either Abraham or Isaac. The kingship is with Joseph, who was a part of Jacob. When Jacob was welcomed in Egypt, apparently Pharaoh was the king over the world. Actually, the true reigning one was Joseph, not Pharaoh. But Joseph did not stand for himself; he stood for his father. Thus, at that time, the world was ruled by Jacob through Joseph.

All the saints are under the process of transformation in order to become kings. Hence, the proper, adequate, and complete experience of God goes from God's selection to our kingship. Selection was accomplished in eternity past, and the kingship will be for eternity future. Kingship is our destiny. In eternity past, God selected and predestinated us to be kings in eternity future. With Abraham we see neither the selection in eternity past nor the kingship in eternity future. In other words, Abraham's record has neither the beginning nor the ending of the experience of God, both of which are with Jacob. In Jacob's record, we have a very good beginning and also an adequate ending. Jacob, the heel-holder, the supplanter, was transformed into a prince of God. Eventually, he became Israel and was no longer Jacob. If we read the New Testament carefully, we shall see that the name of Israel ultimately appears in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12). Although Israel is in the New Jerusalem, the names of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not found there.

Hi 

Hmmm ... as I don't know you or your understanding concerning salvation and the matter of reward. For me, in my understanding of the Bible, there is a two-fold truth: on the one hand, we are saved [wonderful!], we are saved eternally. Yet, on the other hand, there is a matter of the reward for the overcomers.

“If anyone’s work which he has built upon the foundation remains, he will receive a reward” (1 Cor. 3:14).
“If anyone’s work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:15).

Unfortunately, we can only praise the Lord, for those who just before dying, believe and receive salvation. But definitely they are not matured. This is why there is a matter of the millennium (1000 years) - the age of the kingdom - in which all those who are not matured will be perfected.

Regarding the millennium:

The heavenly section of the millennial kingdom will be composed of all the Old Testament and New Testament overcomers. This is indicated by the Lord’s word in Matthew 8:11: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will recline at table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens.” This word refers to the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens. In the manifestation of the kingdom the overcoming Gentile believers will feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and with all the other Old Testament overcomers. As the overcomers participate in the feast of the kingdom of the heavens, they will drink the cup of the new covenant anew with their Lord (26:29).

The earthly section of the millennial kingdom will be the restored kingdom of Israel—the kingdom of David (Acts 1:6; Mark 11:10). In the Old Testament the Lord promised the Jewish people that the Messiah, the anointed One, would come to inherit the throne of David and restore the Jewish nation, that is, the nation of Israel (Gen. 49:10; 2 Sam. 7:13, 16; Psa. 2:8-9; 72:1-20; 89:4; 110:2-3; Isa. 9:6-7; 11:1-5, 10; Jer. 23:5-6; 30:9; 33:14-17; Ezek. 21:27; 34:23-24; 37:24-25; Dan. 2:35; 7:14; Hosea 3:5; Amos 9:11-12; Zech. 3:8; 6:12-13; 9:9-10). When the Lord Jesus came the first time, the Jews were expecting the Messiah to restore His kingdom (Luke 2:25; 3:15; 7:19; John 1:41; 7:27, 41). However, it will not be until the Lord’s second coming that He will restore the Messianic kingdom (Matt. 23:39). The kingdom that the Messiah will restore—the kingdom of Messiah or the kingdom of Israel to be restored in the future—will be the earthly part of the millennium, the tabernacle of David which the Lord will rebuild (Acts 15:16). The Lord will sit on the throne of David and reign over the house of Jacob, that is, the Jewish people (Luke 1:32-33), and He will rule over the nations of the earth during the millennium (Psa. 2:8; 72:8; Dan. 7:14; 2:35).

The New Jerusalem will NOT BE A PHYSICAL CITY. The heavenly section of the millennial kingdom will actually be the New Jerusalem in the millennial age [not eternity].

The New Jerusalem is the union and mingling of all God’s redeemed through all the four ages of the forefathers, the law, grace, and the kingdom with the processed and consummated Triune God. It is thus a union and mingling of the redeemed with the redeeming God. 

The New Jerusalem, like the Body of Christ, is an organic constitution constituted with the redeeming processed and consummated Triune God and the redeemed, transformed, and glorified tripartite men as an organism of the consummated Triune God for His eternal enlargement and expression through the glorified tripartite men.

[I am excited when saying this]

At the time of millennium, the reality of it will be the overcomers only while the defeated believers will be perfected. In eternity future, all will be matured to be the New Jerusalem, the ultimate consummation

You seem to have the wrong understanding pertaining to delegated powers
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_meani...elegated_powers

Anyway. Common Sense would have told you that the Pharoah will not cede power in that way. No one does that.

Genesis 45 just demonstrate the fact that the land and everything still belongs to Pharoah.

Joseph is just the CEO. He is still answerable to the Owner(Primarily Pharoah)

The reason why Pharoah allowed Joseph to rule(manage) the country is because he trust him to do a good job. Simple as that. No where did it indicated that Pharoah "step" down from power.

Ok, I was tempted, but this is really the last post pertaining to this.

No need for further discussion. You obviously never even understand what people write before posting your reply.

Do remember that this is not about initial salvation. And no, I am not matured XD ... the process will take our whole life. Salvation in our spirit is instantaneous (regeneration) but transformation (Rom 12:1; 2 Cor. 3:18) and maturity in our soul (mind, emotion, will) will require our whole life. The Lord will measured to us a course like Paul says (so there is no comparison between believers). Paul was able to say he finished it and a crown awaits him. But, he only mentioned this at the end of his life in his Epistle to Timothy.

The topic is soo big  ... maybe I can just share a little and what questions you may have, you can ask as we go. I will start with vision or seeing what growth of life is:

GROWING WITH THE GROWTH OF GOD

First Corinthians 3:6-7 says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God made to grow; so that neither is the one who plants anything nor the one who waters, but the One who makes to grow, God.” Verse 9 says, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s farm, God’s building.” Growth in these verses is not the growth in knowledge because here Paul speaks of a farm. Planting and watering are not related to knowledge. To plant is not to instruct but to nourish by supplying the plant with fertile soil. Likewise, to water is not to teach but to supply the plant with nutrients in the water. This is related to life.

Colossians 2:19 says, “Holding the Head, out from whom all the Body, by means of the joints and bands being supplied and knit together, grows with the growth of God.” These verses show us that to grow is to grow with something. If a young boy does not eat or drink, he will have nothing with which to grow. One cannot grow with nothing. Rather, without something with which to grow, one will die. Dietitians tell us that we are what we eat. If we eat beef, we will be constituted with the meat of the cow. If we eat fish, we will be constituted with fish.

To grow in the divine life is to have the increase of God in us.

1) The increase of the element of God means that more of God Himself has been mingled with us and received by us to become our element. Therefore, the real growth of life is the increase of God’s life within us. Life is God Himself (John 1:4; 10:10; 11:25; 14:6). When life grows in us, God is increased in us. Life grows and increases to an extent that we may be filled unto all the fullness of God. This is the final word of Ephesians 3:19.

2) Colossians 3:4 says that Christ is our life. Thus, growth of life is the increase of Christ within us. The more we love Christ and pursue Christ (Gal. 4:19), the more the measure of the stature of Christ will increase within us (Eph 4:13). This is the real growth of life.

3) Life is God, life is Christ, and life is also the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:2). Therefore, to grow in life is to allow the Holy Spirit to gain more ground in us (Eph. 3:17)

The above three points—the increase of the element of God, the increase of the measure of the stature of Christ, and the expansion of the ground of the Holy Spirit—are on God’s side. On our side, the growth of life is the decrease of our human element, that is, the decrease of the flavor of man and the increase of the flavor of God.

2 Cor. 4:7-18 - Living a Crucified Life for the Manifestation of the Resurrection Life by the Power of the Treasure in the Earthen Vessels

The growth of life is also the breaking of the natural life (Gal 2:20). In regard to the flesh, the focus of breaking is on its corruption and its opposition to God. In regard to the self, the focus of breaking is on our thoughts and views. In regard to the natural life, the focus of breaking is on our skills, ability, and capability. Concerning these things, the more they are broken, the more the life within will grow. Thus, the growth of life, on the negative side, refers to the decrease of the human element and also to the breaking of our natural life.

The breaking of the natural life and the decrease of the human element are related to the growth of life (John 3:30). In contrast, does the improvement of behavior cause the human element to decrease? Improvement in behavior means that our behavior, which originally was not good, has improved and that we can even be more successful and considerate in dealing with people and matters. However, such improvement does not cause our human element to decrease ; instead, it causes our human element to increase. It not only increases, but it is even strengthened.

The more a person’s behavior improves, the more the self is strengthened (Matt. 16:24). Similarly, expressions of piety cause the human element only to increase. The mere expression of piety will cause one to be strengthened rather than diminished. Hence, this is not the growth of life. Zeal in service, in the same way, causes an increase only in the human element. This is true concerning the increase of knowledge, the abounding in gifts, and the increase of power. All of these things only increase the human element and cannot cause one to have the growth of life.

The growth of life depends on the increase of God and Christ within us—all other aspects should decrease. If we desire to grow in life, our gifts must be stripped by God, and our shell of godliness and piety must be knocked down and broken by God. Our knowledgeable mind, our gifts, and our power must be shattered by God so that the Holy Spirit will have a way to be released. The growth of life depends upon the increase of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit within us. Everything else must decrease.

The Subduing of Every Part of the Soul

Furthermore, the growth of life subdues every part of our soul. The more our soul is subdued, the more life grows, and the more our soul decreases, the more life increases. This is a certain fact. When we meet a saint, there is no need to measure what has been increased in him; rather, we should observe what has been decreased in him and whether he has been poured out and broken. If there is a decrease of himself, then God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit have surely gained ground in him and have increased in him. Only this is the real growth of life.

The real growth of life is not the improvement of behavior, the expression of piety, zealousness in service, an increase of knowledge, an abounding in gifts, or an increase of power. Rather, the real growth of life is the increase of the element of God, the increase of the measure of the stature of Christ, the expansion of the ground of the Holy Spirit, the decrease of the human element, the breaking of the natural life, and the subduing of every part of the soul. On the positive side, growth in life is the increase of the Triune God within us, the increase of the measure of the stature of Christ, and the expanding of the ground of the Holy Spirit. On the negative side, it is the breaking, consuming, and reducing of our outer man, that is, the decrease of our human element, the breaking of our natural life, and the subduing of every part of our soul.

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Are we there? Do we love God with our entire being? Do we still the world within us? Is Matthew 5-7 characterize our church life? Are we fleshly? Can we build with others? We still commit sins. We are always for the self. These are the negatives only.

Are you fully sanctified (Hebrews 2:11)? renewed (2 Corinthians 4:16)? transformed (1 Cor 12:1)? conformed (2 Cor 3:18)? glorified (Rom. 8:29)?

How about those I listed https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3197598/+1880#        You know the answer lar. XD XD

May the Lord graced you to grow!!

so its true? christian girls are very stringent?

But hold hand also cannot? Declare in a relationship but don't recognise the guy as her boyfriend.

Why so tough? It is not allowing the guy to lead the relationship.

Yeah la, but relationship is the way two people get to know each other, it is not marriage anyway. Why take so long to commit to a relationship?

How ah? Migrate there? I do feel that they are more simple hearted and grateful than the locals here. just my opinion and observation.